Why do tribal casinos near major urban areas often earn more money than casinos in remote areas?

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Map of the United States showing states that allow Indian casino gambling operations highlighted in blue, while states without such operations are shown in beige. Most western, midwestern, and northeastern states permit Indian gaming, while several southern and southeastern states do not. — Indian gaming U.S. states that allow Indian gaming.

Tribal casinos located near major urban areas generally earn more money than those in remote areas primarily because of their ability to attract a significantly higher volume of visitors.12

Because many reservations are situated in economically marginal or remote regions, they often lack the consistent foot traffic necessary to sustain high revenue levels. In contrast, proximity to cities provides a larger, more accessible customer base, which directly correlates to increased profitability for the casino operation.12

Due to this disparity, some tribes have sought to expand their businesses by purchasing or developing property closer to urban centers, or by filing land claims in those areas to improve their economic viability.1